Fumigating apparatus



July 5 19271, L634,354-

P. M. GRQSS ET AL FUMIGATING APPARATUS Filed June 5. 1924 Fig.1...

Patented July 5, 19 27. UNITED STATES IAUL M. GROSS AND ROBE RT B. ARNOLD, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOBS,

PATENT OFFICE.

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 TOBACCO BY PRODUCTS AND CHEMICAL CORPORA- TION, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE.

FUMIGATING APPABiATUS.

Application filed, June 5, 1924. Serial No. 718,064.

Thisinvention relates to an improvement in apparatus for fumigating with combustible materials.

In apparatus heretofore used for fumigating with combustible materials, the matenals are burned in an open container, and the evolved gases travel at a speed governed almost wholly by the ditference in specific gravity between the said gases and the air.

The direction of the movement of the gases is uncertain and difiicult to control. The expansive force of the gases is largely or altogether Wasted, and the discharge and dispersement of the ases depends upon differences in the speci c gravity, air currents, and the natural tendency of gases to mix.

For this reason it is dih'icult to apply the gases advantageously, and an object of the present invention is to utilize the pressure created by the expansion of the gases of combustion, to control the discharge and dispersal thereof.

In the drawings forming a part hereof: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of aform of apparatus for carrying out the improved method, arranged for storage or transportation and with a part of the seal broken away.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in operative position, and With a part of the container broken away.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the apparatus in operation.

The improved method and apparatus are particularly designed to utilize the fumigating materials forming the subject matter of Patent No. 1,412,065, dated April 11, 1922. Such preparations are combustible, giving 01f quantities of gas, which is toxic to certain forms of insect life, and the preparation which is composed in the above patent of ground tobacco stems, added nicotine and a combustion inciting material, as for instance potassium nitrate, has usually been utilized by burning in an open container. This method is not, however, entirely satisfactory, and in the present invention a method is provided of so handling the preparation that the column of gas may be directed with a selected velocity in the desired direction, with no liability to deflection and dissipation by air currents.

In the present invention we burn the fumigating materals in a container of noncombustible material, which may be in the form shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, inclusive. In

the said figures t e container comprises a body 1 of cylindrical shape, having a bottom 2, and having an internal flange 3 atits top forming a restricted mouth for the container. The top is closcdby a flanged cover 4, the cover being cup-shaped and'fitting within the mouth, asshown. The cover; has a discharge opening 5, which in the pres nt instance is central and axial to the container, the container being a cylindrical body, although it is obvious that the opening might be in any part of the container, and there might be more than a single openmg.

The material to be burned, indicated at 6 in Fig. 2, is placed Within the container, there being sufiicient to fill the container about one-half full. nited by means of a fuse 7 passin r through the opening 5 and contacting witi the material in the container. The fuse is of combustible material and of a. nature such that The material is ig-' it will be consumed when ignited, to leave the discharge opening 5 free. As the materials burn, gases and smoke are evolved, which ordinarily would drift slowly away from the container. In the present case, however, the gases are confined by the container and the pressure created is utilized to accelerate the flow of the gases through the discharge. In accordance with the size of the opening 5, the velocity at which the gases travel in discharging, may be nicely regulated. The capacity of the discharge is such that there will be a steady flow of gases at the desired velocity, without any possibility of explosion.

The column of gases travels for a distance,

depending upon the pressure within the con tainer,'w1th little lateral expansion. At a certain distance from the container, depending again upon the pressure therein, the gases expand laterally and are dispersed in every direction. By discharging the gases under pressure from the container, the expansive force i, in a manner stored u to be utilized 'at a so ected distance from t e con tainer.

The fumigator may be marketed loaded for operation, with a charge of fumigating materials in the container, and a fuse in place. Preferably the cover 4 is sunk belowv the top of the container, so that there is room for the fuse ertending beyond the .cover to be coiled in this space, and a seal 8 tions for operating the fumigator, or any other desired matter.

In operation, when it is desired to fumigate, the seal 8 is removed, and the fuse is lighted; The fuse burns rapidly, and is consumed, and the materials within the container are ignited. As the gases. are evolved, the pressure 1n the container increases, so

that the gases of combustion are discharged at an accelerated velocity, which is dependent upon the size of the discharge opening 5. The fumigator may be used many times, being of non-combustible material. The cover 4 may be removed to facilitate the insertion of the charge and with a supply of material, and a supply of fuses, the fumigator may be used as often as may be necessary. A i

The seal 8 may be of any suitable material, as for instance, sheet metal, or paper board. When of the latter material it is preferably impregnated with parafiin, silirate of soda or the like, to prevent the entrance of moisture.

As shown in the drawing the seal is a disk of paper, which has been impregnated wlth paraflin, silicate of soda or the like, and it is held in place by a seal of 'parafin at the edge of the disk. When the fumigator is to be used, the seal is broken, which exposes the fuse for ignition.

It will be understood that the discharge opening of the fumigator is of a capaclty such that it will safely handle the gases released from a given quantity of the preparation during a given period of time, while maintaining the desired degree of pressure within the fumigator, so that the gases are discharged and dispersed with force suiticient to serve the purpose intended.

While the container is described as composed of non-combustible material, as for instance, sheet metal, it is obvious that it might be of paper board or the like, fireproofed or not as desired.

While the invention is shown in a prethe passage of a fuse for igniting the matev rial, and having a depressed portion about the opening to receive the portion of the fuse outside of the contains 2. A fumigating device for use with combustible materials, includin a container for receiving the material to be urned, and havmg an opening in its top for the discharge of the fgases of combustion, and for the passage o a fuse for igniting the material, and having a depressed portion about the opening to receive the portion of the fuse outside of the container, and a cover for the top of the container cooperating with the depressed portion to form a chamber for the outer end of the fuse. P v

3. A fumigating device for use with combustible preparations, com rising a closed container of non-combustible material, provided with outlet means for the gases of combustion restricted to a degree such that the gases will be discharged under pressure, the outlet means in the top of the container, a portion of said top about said outlet means depressed, a charge of the preperation in the container, a fuse extending through the outlet means into contact with the charge and adapted to be received in the depression at its outer end, and a seal for the topof the container.

Signed at Durham, in the county of Durday of June, A. 11.1924.

' PAUL M. GROSS.

ROBERT B. ARNOLD.

with comham and State of North Carolina, this 2nd 

